Days before Legacy Fighting 11, Gerald Harris a new man at 171 pounds

Gerald Harris (20-4) most certainly will take his one-pound allowance.

After spending the bulk of his career at middleweight, the UFC vet is scheduled to make his professional debut as a welterweight on Friday at Legacy Fighting Championships 11, which airs live on HDNet from Houston’s Arena Theater. Strikeforce vet Mike Bronzoulis (13-4-1) welcomes him.

“At this point, I’m going to switch roles,” Harris told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I feel like it’s a new career.”

Harris, who replaces fellow UFC vet Marcus Aurelio, is used to being the smaller guy. On the mats in college, he wrestled a pound lighter than the 184-pound division in which he competed. He competed against guys such as Daniel Cormier and Jake Rosholt, who cut serious weight to make that limit.

Never did Harris feel like he was outmuscled, though. So when MMA came around, it was a natural choice to stay at middleweight despite the fact that he never got above 190 pounds.

Something, however, wasn’t clicking. Even with a three-fight win streak that dulled memories of a two-fight skid and release from the UFC, Harris said a change was in the air.

A test cut confirmed suspicions that he could retain his speed and power at a lighter weight.

“I felt great the next day, so that’s where I’m at,” he said.

So instead of being the little engine that could, Harris hopes to be the bully who literally tosses his opponents across the cage.

“I feel like I have a better chance of proving myself,” he said. “There’s nothing more I can do at 185. Everything I do at 185 is back against the wall.

“At 171? I feel like it’s all brand new.”

And quite frankly, options at middleweight weren’t looking great. A three-fight deal with DREAM fizzled with the Japanese promotion’s financial struggles, and he wasn’t about to take offers to fight in Joe Bob’s backyard fighting championship. Nor would he fight UFC vet Anthony Johnson for $2,000, he said.

“People give me some stupid crazy offers, so you have to be careful who you fight,” Harris said. “Legacy for me is my best option. I can stay here for a long time.”

Harris has put an admittedly shaky start with the Texas-based promotion behind him and signed a four-fight deal.

“This is more like my sophomore year because I know the ropes,” he said.

The last time he tipped the scales at 171, Harris was 22 years old.

“It’s not fun, but I can do it,” he said. “When people see me on TV, they think I’m this big monster. When they see me in public, they’re like, ‘Aw, you’re not that big.'”

Bronzoulis, a former Legacy welterweight champion, could put a significant notch on his belt with a win. But Harris plans on denying him that opportunity in the most intimidating way possible.

“I really want to pick someone and throw them across the ring, legally,” he said.

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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